Concord Township to get video service makeover

Trustee meetings rarely ever reach the thrill of a TNT drama, but Concord Township is planning a makeover of its video service this summer to make the experience more enjoyable.

Township officials began televising biweekly trustee meetings and other public meetings in 2002, and have continued using the same single camera and televising equipment since then.

"With electronics and technology, sooner or later it is going to crash," said Linda Legg, Concord's recreation director, who is also facilitating the purchase of the new video service.

A majority of the upgrades include the purchase of two Vaddio Wall cameras, which will be mounted on the rear ceiling of the chambers and controlled by remote, and a portable JVC ProHD camera, which is intended to be used for meetings outside of the chamber and special events. The portable camera won't have the ability to televise meetings live.

Concord trustees approved the purchase in May for a price of $35,827. It is being paid for entirely by fees collected from AT&T U-verse and Time Warner Cable subscribers living in the township.

Concord Fiscal Officer Amy Dawson said the local government fee is included in each customer's monthly bill and can range from $1 to a few dollars, depending on the level of TV service.

"In my bill, it has varied anywhere from $1.08 to $2.50," Dawson said.

The makeover also will consolidate the closet-sized computer module and wired microphone equipment underneath the chambers. The consolidation, Legg said, should eliminate the disrupting ambient noises emitted coming from computer hard drives and free up more front row seats for audience members.

The new service also will allow people to visit Concord's website at concordtwp.com. They will also be able to watch streaming video of previous meetings.

Township officials have been archiving their meetings since 2006, but viewing them requires an external program like Windows Media Player or QuickTime.

Concord's contract with Minnesota-based company LEIGHTRONIX allows users to watch meetings using only their Web browser. The first year of LEIGHTRONIX's contract is included in the $35,000 price tag, but it will cost the township $3,000 per year after that.

"The upgrade is going to give people a much better experience, whether they watch the meetings live, on our broadcast or on our website," Legg said.

Legg said the new equipment likely won't be installed until after the Concord Community Days event slated for Aug. 16 and Aug. 17.

Time Warner Cable subscribers in the township can watch live broadcasts of Concord's trustee meetings, which happen 7:30 p.m. every first and third Wednesday of the month, on channel 20; and AT&T U-verse subscribers can search for the meetings on channel 99.